Inflating device for flotation gear



Dec. 7, 1965 G. A. ANDERSON INFLATING DEVICE FOR FLOTATION GEAR FiledApril 4, 1962 l l l 2 Sheets-She eil \ /wml 20 1 ll k R /A/l/ENTo/z@usr/1F A. AA/DE/aso/v Arroz/Jens /40 /zab 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /M/EA/TozGUSTAF A. AA/Dszso/J 770,40, Kde/mma, Hai/@www4 Wgu.

Armen/5v5 G A ANDERSON INFLATING DEVICE FOR FLOTATION GEAR Dec. 7, 1965Flled Aprll 4 1962 United States Patent O 3,221,932 INFLATNG DEVICE FRFLGTATION GEAR Gustaf A. Anderson, 3333 Pachappa Drive, Riverside,Calif. Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 185,098 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-5) Thisinvention relates to an inllating device for inflating flotation gearsuch as life preservers, life rafts and the like, and more particularlyit relates to an inilating device of the type that is automaticallyactuated upon being immersed in water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedinilating device of the type having a cartridge or container ofinllating fluid under pressure and provided with a water soluble pelletor plug which dissolves when the device is immersed in water and thusallows the inilation iluid to escape from the cartridge and inllate alife preserver, life raft or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedinllating device which is simple in operation, economical inconstruction and relatively small in size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedinating device which utilizes the pressure of the intlating lluid tooperate a piston valve to release the fluid when the water solublepellet dissolves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedintlating device in which the cartridge containing the inflating fluidcan be easily and simply replaced and the device can be used again aftersuch replacement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedinilating device which can be constructed mainly of plastic material anddoes not require operating parts to be held to close dimensionaltolerances yet still prevents the inilating fluid from gradually leakingout if the device is not used for a long period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedinflating device of the type described in the previous paragraph inwhich the inilating fluid cannot escape to the atmosphere when thedevice is actuated but is directed entirely into the article to beinflated.

The `foregoing' and other objects of the present invention areaccomplished by providing an inilating device having a cylinder with aport in the side wall and a cartridge containing inilating lluid underpressures positioned adjacent one end of the cylinder. Means areprovided in the cylinder for puncturing the cartridge to allow the fluidto be released into said cylinder. A piston is provided in the cylinderand is movable therein between a port closing and a port openingposition. A soluble pellet is provided in the `cylinder to normallymaintain the piston in a port closing position and passageways areprovided in the cylinder to permit the entry of water to dissolve thepellet and allow the piston to be moved to a port opening position bythe pressure of the iluid in the cartridge.

For better understanding of the invention reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an inllating device as characterized bythe features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the inilating device taken along line 2-2of FIG. 1 and showing the operating parts of the device in one of theiroperating positions;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the upper end of the inilatingdevice taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 and showing the operatingparts in another of their operating positions;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the inilating device of FIG. l showing theindividual parts;

ice

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken -along line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of another embodiment of aninllating device as characterized by the features of the presentinvention.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. l to 6 of the drawings,there is illustrated an inflating device 10 `which is connected to alife preserver, life raft or the like 12 by means of a duct or tube 14.The life preserver 12 is preferably constructed of rubber, plastic orother material which can be folded into a small space and is adapted tobe intl-ated with fluid to provide flotation support for the wearer oroccupant in water.

The inflating device .10 is provided with a generally cylindrical body16 having external threads 16a at the upper end thereof and externalthreads 16b at the lower end thereof. The body 16 is provided with acentral axial bore 18 having a cylindrical upper portion which defines acylinder or piston chamber 2t). The lower end of the -bore 1S isprovided with an enlarged and internally threaded section 22 in order toaccommodate a threaded plug 24.

The plug 24 is generally cylindrical in form and the upper portionthereof is provided with an annular recess for accommodating an O-ring27 which seats against a shoulder formed between the cylinder 20 and thethreaded section 22 to provide a seal therebetween. The lower face ofthe plug 24 is provided with an axially positioned, downwardly dependingconically shaped point or spike 26. The plug 24 is also provided with acentral bore 23 the upper end of which communicates with the cylinder 20and the lower end of which emerges. on the conical side of the spike 26above the lower point thereof. A washer shaped gasket 30 is alsoprovided on the lower llat surface of the plug 24 to provide a sealbetween the plug and the top end of an inilating iluid containingcartridge 32. The cartridge 32 is preferably of the type commerciallyavailable having metal walls and containing fluid such as CO2 under ahigh pressure.

The cartridge 32 is positioned in a lower cap 34 which is provided withinternal threads adjacent its upper end for engaging the threads 16b ofthe body. A gasket 36 is provided for sealing between the upper end ofthe lower cap 34 and a shoulder defined on the -body 16 adjacent theupper end of the threads 16h. The cartridge 32 is llrst placed in thelower cap 34 and the `cap is then threaded on the threads 16b of thebody until the spike 26 punctures the top surface of the cartridgeallowing the iluid therein to enter the cylinder 2t) through the bore 2Sin the plug 24. The fluid is prevented from escaping into the lowerportion of the body 16 and then to the atmosphere by the gaskets 30 and36.

There is provided in the cylinder 20 a slidable piston 38 having twoannular grooves defined therein which contain O-rings 40 and 42. Thus,when the spike 26 punctures the cartridge 32 the fluid released into thecylinder 20 exerts a force on the lower end of the piston 38 tending toforce it upward. The iluid is prevented from escaping around the Wallsof the piston 38 by the O-rings 4@ and 42. The upper end of the piston38 is provided with a pair of radial grooves 44. A port 46 is providedin the wall of the cylinder 2t) to communicate with the duct 14. Itshould be noted that the location of the port 46 is positioned betweenthe O-rings 40 and 42 when the piston 38 is in the closed position shownin FIG. 2 of the drawings. Thus, the O-ring 4i) prevents any inilatingfluid from the cartridge from entering the port 46 until the piston 38is moved upwardly by the force of the fluid to the position shown inFIG. 3.

The piston 38 is prevented from upward movement under the force of thefluid pressure by means of a water soluble pellet 43 and an upper cap50. The upper cap 50 is threaded onto the threads 16a of the body 16 anddefines a space or water chamber 52 for accommodating the pellet 4S.Ports 54 are provided in the end and side walls of the upper cap 5d inorder that water may enter the chamber 52 and dissolve the pellet 48when the device is immersed in water. The grooves 44 in the upper end ofthe piston 38 are provided so that the water can easily move from oneside of the chamber 52 to the other and thus effect a rapid dissolutionof the pellet 4,8 when the device is immersed in water. The O-ring 42prevents any water from passing from the chamber 52 through the cylinder50 and port 46 into the life preserver 12.

In order to assemble the inllating device 10, the plug 24 with theO-ring 27 and gasket 30 thereon is threaded into the threaded section 22at the lower end of the body 16. The piston 3S with the O-rings 4.0. and42 is then inserted into the cylinder 20 from the top end of the body16. It is to be understood that the body 16 and piston 3S can beconstructed of plastic or the like and that the dimensional tolerancesof the piston 38 and cylinder 2) do not have to be precisely controlledsince the O-rings 40 and 42 are slightly larger in external diameterthan the internal diameter of the cylinder 20 and thus will be undercompression when the piston 38` is inserted in the cylinder electuatinga fluid tight seal therebetween without requiring accurate machining ofthe interfitting surfaces. Moreover, it has been found that O-ring sealsof this type provide very good sealing characteristics, while stillallowing the piston to move readily within the cylinder under the effectlof the fluid pressure on the end of the piston.

The soluble pellet 48 is then placed on the upper end of the piston 38and the upper cap 50 is threaded onto the body 16 and thus the piston 38is prevented from moving upwardly from its position shown in FIG. 2until the pellet 48 is dissolved. The cartridge 32 in then placed in thelower cap 34 in the postion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the cap 34 isthreaded onto the threads 16b at the lower end of the body 16. As thecartridge 32 is moved upwardly during this threading operation the spike26 punctures the top end of the cartridge 32 thus allowing the inflationfluid such as compressed CO2 or the like to enter the cylinder 20through the bore 28 and exert its pressure on the lower end of thepiston 38. The piston 38 cannot move upward under this pressure becauseof the pellet 48 and upper cap 50 and the inflating fluid cannot escapeinto the port` 46 or out the top of the cylinder 20 because of thesealing action of the O-rings 40 and 42. Also, the fluid pressure on theO- ring 40 further tends to compress the O-ring thus providing a tighterseal between the piston 38 and cylinder 20.

The inflating device 10, thus assembled, is now ready for use whenattached to a life preserver or the like 12 through the tube 14. Whenthe device is now immersed in water and inflation of the preserver isthus desired, water will enter the water chamber 52 through the ports S4in the upper cap 50 causing the water soluble pellet 48 to dissolve,thus allowing the fluid pressure -on the bottom end of the piston 38 tomove the piston upward to the position shown in FIG. 3. This upwardmovement of the piston 38 allows the inflating fluid from the cartridge32 to enter the port 46 and tube 14 ind inflate the life preserver. Theinflation fluid cannot escape out the top of the cylinder 20 because ofthe O-rings 40 and 42 on the piston 38 which is prevented from furtherupward movement because of the top of the upper cap 50. Likewise, waterin the chamber 52 cannot enter the port 46 because of the sealing actionof the O-rings 40 and 42.

lf, after the device has been actuated it is desired to reuse theapparatus, the upper cap 50 is unscrewed allowing the piston 38 to moveupwardly out of the cylinder 20 thus allowing the inflation fluid toescape and the life preserver to be folded back into a small package,ready 4 for reinflaton. The piston 33 is then reinserted into thecylinder Ztl and a new soluble pellet 48 is placed on top thereof andthe upper cap Sil is screwed in place as before described. The lower cap34 is then unscrewed from the body and the spent cartridge 32 isreplaced with a fresh cartridge and the lower cap is then assembled asbefore described and the device is ready for use again.

Thus, the present invention provides a new and improved automaticinflating device for life preservers, life rafts, and the like which issimple, dependable and economical in construction and operation and onewhich can utilize commercially available compressed fluid cartridges andcan be utilized over and over again by simply replacing the oldcartridge and providing another soluble pellet.

The novel construction of the piston, cylinder and O- rings provide fora fast actuating mechanism which is' trouble free and will not allow theinflating fluid toI escape even though the device may not be used foryears from the date of assembly. Moreover, because of the simpleconstruction of these parts close dimensional tolerances and/ ormachining of them is not required and thus the device can be massproduced very economically and material such as plastic and the likewhich are impervious to water can be utilized rather than steel or othermetals which are more costly to work and are susceptible to corrosionand rust.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated another embodiment of aninflating device 11() as characterized by the features of the presentinvention. The device is adapted to be connected to an inflatable lifepreserver, life raft or the like 112 by a duct or tube 1 14 whichcornmunicates between the interior of the life preserver and theinflating device.

The device 110 is provided with a cylinder or piston chamber which maybe formed of a plastic tube and which is provided with a flared lowerend 12 0a in order to accommodate the upper end of an inflating fluidcontaining cartridge 132 which may be of the type previously described.A housing 134 is provided to contain the various parts of the assemblyand the lower end thereof is closed and shaped to closely .accommodatethe lower end of the cartridge 132 which is inserted in the housing fromthe top thereof. A port 134:: is provided in the upper side wall of thehousing to accommodate the tube 114 which is inserted therethrough. Aport 1.46 is provided in the wall of the cylinder 120 which is in axialalignment and in communication with the tube 114. A circular recess 120ais provided in the outer wall of the cylinder 120 in axial alignmentwith the port 146 to accommodate the end of the tube 114.

In assembling the device, the cartridge 132 is first placed in the topend of the housing 134 and then forced downward until the roundedbottoms of these two parts abut. Next the cyilnder 120 is placed in thehousing with the lower ilared end portion -120a fitting over the topportion of the cartridge 132. The tube 114 is then inserted through theopening 134b in the housing and is moved inwardly until the inner end ofthetube is seated in the circular recess 120a in the outer wall of thecylinder 120. A filler material such as plastic is then forced into the:housing until the top of the filler material reaches the approximatelevel of the top of the cylinder 120. The filler material 125 is thenallowed to set or harden and thus secure the tube 114, cylinder 120 andcartridge 132 in the proper intertting relation as shown in FIG. 7.

When the filler 125 is thus hardened it provides a seal between thecartridge 132 and the cylinder 120 so that no inllating lluid can escapefrom the top of the cartridge 132 to the interior of the lower portionof the housing when the cartridge is punctured. The filler 125 alsosecures the tube 114 in the proper position and seals the opening 13411around the tube as well as preventing any inflating fluid in thecylinder 120 from escaping from around the recess 12de in the wall.

A piston 138 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 120. The piston 138 isprovided on its lower end with a downwardly depending, axially aligned,conically shaped spike 126 which is adapted to puncture the top end ofthe cartridge 132 when the piston 138 is moved downwardly. The piston138 may also be provided with three annular recesses the upper and lowerof which are adapted to contain the O-rings 142 and 140 respectively. Amiddle recess on the piston 138 is positioned to align with the port 146in the cylinder 120 when the piston is in its lowermost position asshown in FIG. 7.

After the tiller 125 has hardened as previously described, the piston138 is inserted in the cylinder l12.6 and forced downwardly until thespike 126 pierces the top of the cartridge 132, a key 133 is insertedthrough the tube 114 and port 146 so that the end of the key engages themiddle annular recess in the piston 138 preventing the inating fluidpressure from moving the piston upwardly and allowing the fluid toescape. When the piston 138 is held in its lower position as shown inFIG. 7 any fluid from the cartridge 132 that escapes through a piercedhole in the top thereof cannot escape past the lower O-ring 140 whichacts as a seal.

The top end of the housing 134 extends upwardly above the upper end ofthe cylinder 120 and filler 125 in order to provide a water chamber 152for containing a water soluble pellet 148. The side walls of the chamber152 are provided with ports 154 so that water may enter the chamber whenthe device is immersed. The upper end of the piston 138 may be providedwith radial grooves 144 for allowing water to move more freely withinthe chamber in order to eifect a rapid dissolution of the pellet 148upon immersion of the device.

The upper end of the housing 134 is closed with a disclike upper cap 150which is provided with a plurality of ports 154 in order that water mayenter from the top to dissolve the pellet 148. The upper cap 150 isseated upon a shoulder 134a which is annular in shape and formed on theinner walls of the housing 134 adjacent the upper end. After the piston13S is moved downwardly and secured in that position with the key 133 aspreviously described, the pellet 148 is placed within the housing on theupper end of the piston 138. The top cap 150 is then placed in the endof the housing 134 on the shoulder 134@ and the upper ends of thehousing are crimped over the top peripheral edge of the top cap 150 tosecure it in place. The key 133 can then be removed from the tube 114and the piston 138 will remain in its lower position as shown in FIG. 7since it cannot move upwardly because of the pellet 148 and top cap 150.The device 110 is now ready for operation and is connected to thedesired life preserver.

When water enters the chamber 152 upon immersion of the device 110, thepellet 148 is dissolved allowing the pressure of the inflating uid inthe cartridge 132 to force the piston 138 upward until the top endthereof abuts the top cap 150. With the piston in this position theintlating uid from the cartridge 132 enters the life preserver 112through the cylinder 128, port 146 and tube 114 causing the preserver toinflate. The inating fluid cannot escape into the water chamber 152because the O-ring 140 is seated against the portion of the wall of thecylinder 120 which is above the port 146. Likewise water cannot enterinto the lower portion of the cylinder 120 because of the sealing actionof the O-ring 148.

It is to be noted that by use of the ller 125 and by crimping over theupper end of the housing 134 to secure the cap 150 in place that nothreaded parts are needed in the assembly of the device 110. For thisreason and others it can be readily seen that the device 110 can bereadily mass produced at a very low cost and, consequently, the item canbe expendable after use because of the low cost. The device 110 issimple, reliable and can be kept for a long period of time before usewithout deterioration of the inating fluid supply because of the novelconstruction of the piston and cylinder assembly.

While the present invention has been described in connection withparticular embodiments of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. It isintended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. An inliating device for life preservers and other inflatableapparatus comprising a cylinder provided with a port in its side wall, acartridge containing inating fluid under pressure having one end thereofextending into one end of said cylinder, means in said cylinder forpuncturing said cartridge to release said Huid into said cylinder, apiston movable in said cylinder to close and open said port, and watersoluble pellet means in said cylinder for normally maintaining saidpiston in a port closing position, said cylinder being provided withpassageways to provide for the entry of water to dissolve said pelletmeans and permit said piston to be moved in said cylinder by thepressure of said fluid to a port opening position.

2. An inilating device for life preservers and other inilatableapparatus comprising a cylinder provided with a port in its side wall, acartridge containing intiating iiuid under pressure having one endthereof extending into one end of said cylinder, means in said cylinderfor puncturing said cartridge to release said fluid in said cylinder, apiston movable in said cylinder to open and close said port, watersoluble pellet means in said cylinder for normally maintaining saidpiston in a port closing position, said cylinder provided withpassageways to permit water to enter the cylinder to dissolve saidpellet means and allow said piston to be moved to a port openingposition by the pressure of said fluid, and sealing means interposedbetween said piston and cylinder for preventing water from saidpassageways from entering said port and for preventing said fluid fromentering said port when said piston .is in a port closing position.

3. An inating device for life preservers and other inflatable apparatusas provided in claim 2 wherein said first-mentioned means comprises apointed spike integrally formed on said piston.

4. An iniiating device for life preservers and other inflatableapparatus as provided in claim 2 where said first-mentioned meanscomprises a plug threadedly engaged in said one end of said cylinder,said plug being provided with a pointed spike depending from its outerface and with a passageway through said plug having its outer endterminating in said spike adjacent its point.

5. An iniiating device for life preservers and other inflatable devicescomprising a housing having one end thereof closed, a cartridgecontaining intlating luid under pressure positioned in said housingadjacent the closed end thereof, a cylinder in said housing having oneend adjacent one end of said cartridge and having a port defined in itsside wall, a tube extending through said housing and communicating withsaid port, a piston in said cylinder movable to a port closing and portopening position, said piston including puncturing means for puncturingsaid cartridge to release said fluid in said cylinder, a water solublepellet in said housing for normally maintaininf7 said piston in a portclosing position, cap means secured adjacent the other end of saidhousing forming a chamber for retaining said pellet in said housing,said chamber being provided with passageways to permit water to enterthe cylinder to dissolve said pellet and allow said piston to be movedto a port opening position by the pressure of said fluid, and sealingmeans interposed between said piston and said cylinder for preventingwater from said chamber from entering said port and for preventing saidfluid from entering said port when said piston is in a port closingposition.

6. An initiating device for life preservers and other inflatable devicescomprising a body having threaded end sections, a cylinder defined insaid body having a port in its side wall, a cartridge containinginflating fluid under pressure positioned at one end of said cylinder,cap means threadedly engaged `to one of the threaded end sections ofsaid ybody for housing said cartridge, means for puncturing saidcartridge to release said fluid into said cylinder comprising a plugthreadedly engaged in said cylinder adjacent said cartridge, said plughaving a pointed spike and a bore therethrough, one end of said boreterminating in said spike, a piston movable in said cylinder to a portclosing and a port opening position, water soluble pellet means adjacentone end of said piston for movably maintaining said piston in a portclosing position, second cap means threadedly engaged to the otherthreaded end section of said body, said second cap means definingchamber means for housing said pellet means and maintaining said pelletmeans adjacent said piston, said chamber means being provided withpassageways to permit the entry of water to dissolve said pellet andpermit said piston to be moved to a port opening position by said uidpressure, and sealing means interposed between said piston and saidcylinder for preventing water in said chamber means from entering saidport and for preventing said fluid from entering said port when saidpiston is in a port closing position.

7. An inating device for life preservers and other inflatable apparatuscomprising a cylinder provided with a port in its side wall, a cartridgecontaining intiating Huid under pressure having one end thereofextending into 8 one end of said cylinder, means in said cylinder forpuncturing said cartridge to release said tluid in said cylinder, apiston movable in said cylinder to open and close said port, watersoluble pellet means in said cylinder for normally maintaining saidpiston in a port closing position, said cylinder provided withpassageways to permit water to enter the cylinder to dissolve saidpellet means and allow said piston to be moved to a port openingposition by the pressure of said uid, and sealing means including atleast one O-ring seal interposed between said piston and cylinder forpreventing water from said passageways from entering said port and forpreventing said fluid from entering said port when said piston is in aport closing position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,886 2/1955IVie 222-5 X 2,819,820 1/l958 Allen 222-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 792,381 3/1958Great Britain. 1,234,160 5/ 1960 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, EVERETT W. KIRBY,

Examiners.

1. AN INFLATING DEVICE FOR LIFE PRESERVES AND OTHER INFLATABLE APPARATUSCOMPRISING A CYLINDER PROVIDED WITH A PORT IN ITS SIDE WALL, A CARTRIDGECONTAINING INFLATING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE HAVING ONE END THEREOFEXTENDING INTO ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER, MEANS IN SAID CYLINDER FORPUNCTURING SAID CARTRIDGE TO RELEASE SAID FLUID INTO SAID CYLINDER, APISTON MOVABLE IN SAID CYLINDER TO CLOSE AND OPEN SAID PORT, AND WATERSOLUBLE PELLET MEANS IN SAID CYLINDER FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAIDPISTON IN A PORT CLOSING POSITION, SAID CYLINDER BEING PROVIDED WITHPASSAGEWAYS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENTRY OF WATER TO DISSOLVE SAID PELLETMEANS AND PERMIT SAID PISTON TO BE MOVED IN SAID CYLINDER BY THEPRESSURE OF SAID FLUID TO A PORT OPENING POSITION.